Sound-box.



A. D. JONES.

SOUND BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1914.

1,220,638. Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

TIIIIIIII' ATTORNEYS A. D.10NES.

SOUND BOX.

APPUc/moN FILED fis. 24. 19m.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES W INVENTOR- ATTORNEYS yn mmms vrrses m mmm-uma. wAsmnumN, ux:4

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA D. JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TOE. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, OF MERCHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

SOUND-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application filed February 24, 1914. Serial No. 820,643.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALvA D. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Sound-Box, of which the following is aspecification.

In sound boxes for talking machines, as generally constructed, the soundreproducing diaphragm is held in positionby one or more detachableannuli of rubber or similar material, and the sound boxv is composed ofa plurality of metallic and rubber parts, united by screws, .the variousparts having rubber insulation between them, whereby the cost ofproduction is greatly increased.

It is further well known that most sound boxes in use emit a metallic orscratchy sound accompanyingthe reproduction of sound from the soundreproducing tablet. By my present invention, I .construct the sound boxof a single body of rubber or similar suitable material, within which Icast, mold or otherwise secure the diaphragm or disk to which the stylusarm of the usual construction is secured, whereby the expense ofproduction is reduced to a minimum, and I obtain a sound box as a whole,which possesses marked advantages over those of the prior art, andwherein the sound box body is composed of a single, integral piece ofmaterial.

In carrying out my invention, I simultaneously with the production ofthe one piece soundbox body and the securing of the mica orether'diaphragm therein also cast within or to said sound box body, thebearings in which the stylus holder is mounted, and I provide saidstylus holder with a novel construction of jeweled bearings by whichlatter I attain a most faithful and accurate reproduction of the soundto be reproduced or transmitted.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel method of producinga sound box, wherein the sound box body is in one piece and has the micadisk er diaphragm cast, molded or otherwise secured thereto,simultaneously 'with the production of the sound box body, the bearingsfor the stylus arm being also cast or molded into or upon said bodyportion at the same time.

It further consists of a novel construction of a sound box having a onepiece body of rubber or similar suitable material within which the micaor other diaphragm is cast or molded, without necessitating theemployment of extraneous fastening devices.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as willbe hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustra-ting my invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same will give in practice satisfactory and reliableresults,

although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement andorganization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure l represents a side elevation of a sound box embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 represents a section on line -a' Fig. l.

Fig. 3 represents on a reduced scale, a section similar to Fig. 2, butshowing the sound box as applied to the coacting element of a talkingmachine, and the rear inner portion of the sound box being of softerrubber or similar material.

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view of a portion of the sound box seen inFig. 3 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 represents a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing anothermodification of my invention.

Fig. G represents a front elevation of the mica or other diaphragmemployed, in detached position. Y

Fig. r represents, in detached position, a

perspective view of a band which may loe cast or molded in the sound boxbody, showing also the lugs for the reception of the bearings of thestylus holder.

Fig. 8 represents a sectional view, partly in eleva-tion, showing aslightly different form of securing or casting the bearings for thestylus holder in the sound box body.

Fig. 9 represents a front elevation on an enlarged scale, showing onemanner of mounting the bearings for the stylus holder, whereby a verydelicate and sensitive reproduction of the sound waves may be produced.

Fig. l0 represents on an enlarged scale, a front elevation of a portionof the stylus holder and its adjuncts, seen in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 represents a sectional view of the diaphragm and its adjunctsshowing the manner oie. securing the stylus holder to said diaphragm.Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of another embodiment of myinvention. Fig. 13 represents a side elevation oi"- Fig. 1e represents aplan view of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 represents a sec tion on line v -m, Fig.13. Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thetigures.

Referring to the drawings:

1 designates my novel construction of sound box, the same comprising aone piece body portion and the diaphragi 2, having the ports 3therethrough, through which ports the rubber or other plastic materialof the sound box bodyl is adapted to pass or interlock during the actionoit molding and become set, as indicated at the points i in Figs. 2 and4. 5 designates the rear wall a modification.

of the one piece sound box body which has an outer, annular, peripheralgroove or indentation G, formed during the action of molding or by theaction or' the molds, said sound box having the outer peripheral solidportion 7, which surrounds the outer peripheral edge 8 oi' the diaphragm2, and is continued around said outer periphery ot the diaphragm and isannularly deflected as at 9, so as to terminate in thev outwardlyprojecting lip 10, the outer periphery of the diaphragm being pinchedbetweenfthe members 6 and 9, as will be understood from the enlargedviews in Figs. 2 and Ll. Simultaneously with the casting of lthe bodyportion ot rubber or other similar Y material around the diaphragm 2, 1also cast or mold in position the band 11, best seen in Fig. 7, which isprovided at its terminals with the outwardly projecting arms 12, whichterminate in the bearings 13, having the openings llt therein, in whichopenings are mounted the smooth portions 1G of the stems 15, the latterhaving the'threaded portions 17 and 18, said portion 17 terminating'in aconical point 19, which is received in the jeweled bearing or block 20,inserted in the block or stylus holder'21.

22 designates a nut engaging the threaded portion 17, whereby thetension of the spring 23 can be adjusted, according to requirements. 2idesignates an outer nut en` gaging the threaded portion 1S, whereby thetension of the spring 25 can be adjusted, according to requirements.rFhe block or stylus holder 21 is adapted to receive the chuck or stylus26 in the usual manner which engages the groove of the tablet 27 in thecustomary manner, the stylus or the stylus chuclrbeing held in positionby a screw 28 of the usual construction.

The stylus arm 29 projects upwardly from the stylus block 21 and has itsupper extremity deieeted laterally as at SO and suitably secured to thediaphragm 2, as indicated at 31, by any suitable cementmg or fasteningmeans, se that no metal contacts witlrthe diaphragm 2. During theoperation of casting the sound box body, l also cast the laterallyextending neck or tubular extension 32 thereon, and provide the samewith the ridges 33, which are adapted to engage the tubular extension 34of the tone arm, as will be understood from Fig. 3, and I also providethe pin to form the bayonet joint connection with the extension or tonearm 3st or the usual. construction.

If desired, I may employ in lieu of the construction seen in Fig. 7, forproducing the bearings ior the stylus arm, the construction seen in Fig.S, which shows the bearings 36 as mounted on arms 37 connected by thebar 3S, said bar and arms being cast in the sound box bodysimultaneously with the casting of the diaphragm 2 therein, as will beunderstood from said Fig. S.

In all the embodiments of my invention,

itwill be seen that the front, rear andouter u peripheral portion of thesound box body is of one piece and composed of a single mass of rubberor similar material which during the process of casting or molding isproperly shaped to produce the construction seen in Fig. 2, and has itsouter portions compressed during molding upon the outer portions of thediaphragm 2. All screws, metal plates, washers, paclrings 'for thediaphragm and the like are dispensed with, my novel sound box body beingmade integral or in one piece and comprising merely the body itself withthe diaphragm and bearings for the stylus holder cast therein at one andthe same operation.

1t will be further apparent that during the casting ot the diaphragm,the plastic material otwhich the sound box body is composed, will becaused to enter the openings 3 in the outer periphery in the diaphragm 2at the points 1, so that the outer periphery of said diaphragm will beproperly and intimately intcrloclred with the sound box body, asindicated at the points t best seen in Figs. 2 and Ll. In Fig. 5 isillustrated a partly sectional view oit the sound-box, in which thediaphragm is illustrated as without the perforations near its peripheryand with the diaphragm simply secured between the contiguous portions ofthe sound-box.

The body of the sound-box has an annular channel, 39, in its peripheralwall, into which the edge of the diaphragm extends, and segmental slots,40 and 41, are formed in the front and back of the body which lead intosaid channel, to provide means Vfor removing the core forming thechannel and to lighten the weight of the sound-box whereby the core canbe readily removed, if desired, during or after the act of casting. Thestylus arm 29 can be assembled with respect to the diaphragm at anydesired stage during or prior to the production or casting of the soundbox body by the molding jaws 43, which are mounted on the curved spring45, said jaws shaping and securing the fastening material 31 inposition. The bearings 20 which I employ, seen in Figs. 9 and 10 arepreferably jewel bearings, which can be inserted in the block or stylusholder 21 in any convenient way, so that upon the proper adjustment ofthe nuts 22 and 24, the desired tension of the springs and 25 on bothsides of the stylus holderl can be obtained, so as to cause a mostdelicate and faithful reproduction of the sounds desired to bereproduced. In casting my novel construction of sound box, I preferablyemploy rubber or similar suitable rubber composition which can be curedor vulcanized to the requisite degree of hardness or resiliency, as willbe apparent to those skilled in the art, and if desired, I may, at anysuitable stage of the production of my novel one piece sound box, makethe rear inner wall of the same of material 42, as best seen in Fig. 4,which may be softer than the sound box body, whereby a reproduction ofsounds similar to the sounds made bythe human throat, of great fidelity,may be had. lThe lining 42 may be continued to form the sleeve 44, andthe interlocking pin may be secured to the sleeve 44 or to the inclosingtubular extension 32, as may be desired.

In carrying out my invention, I do not desire to be limited to anyparticular construction of molds, for the production of the sound boxbody, as the same may be of any suitable construction and will form thesubject-matter of a separateapplication, the office of said molds beingto retain and compress the rubber or other plastic material, of whichthe sound box body is composed, with respect to the diaphragm 2, so thatthe resultant shape of the body will appear as seen in Fig. 2 and thematerial of the sound box body will simultaneously encompass andinterlock with the ports 3 of the diaphragm, as already described, thestylus arm bearings of the metal band 11 or the equivalent constructionseen in Fig. 8, being simultaneously cast or molded within the sound boxbody at the same time the latter is molded around the diaphragm 2.

In the molding or casting of my novel sound bex, the rubber or similarmaterial, in a sufficiently plastic condition, is placed within suitablemolds, which latter may be made so as to facilitate the propermanipulation, the molds being of such contour that after the same areassembled, the rubber or other material can be compressed into thedesired shape, and thereafter cured or otherwise treated, so that theresultant product when withdrawn from the molding apparatus will be aone-piece, unitary sound box having the advantages described. So far asI am aware, I am the first in the art to produce a sound box having aone-piece sound box body of rubber or similar material cast around andinto operative engagement with the diaphragm, and I am also the first tocarry out the steps of my novel method herein disclosed, and my claimsare therefore to be interpreted with the corresponding scope which isaccorded to a pioneer or primary invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that by my novelinvention I have greatly reduced the number of parts and by a singleoperation am enabled to produce a one piece sound box body within whichis secured and inclosed simultaneously at the one and same operation ofmolding or casting both the diaphragm and the bearings for the stylusarm and its adjuncts. My invention will also be applicable to telephonereceivers and sound recording devices as well as sound boxes or thelike. i

In the construction seen in Fig. 12, I have shown another embodiment ofmy invention, wherein the sound box and the goose neck applicable to thewell-known Victor type of talking machine are cast or molded in onepiece out of rubber or similar material, in lieu of the plurality ofparts at present employed. In Fig. 12, 46 represents a goose neck orreturn bend, and 47 the sound box body, which is cast simultaneouslywith the curved or return bend portion 4G, and has secured therein, thediaphragm 2, the constructionof the sound box body and the manner ofassembling it with respect to the diaphragm being the same as alreadydescribed with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it being understood that thebearings for the stylus holder are cast in the sound box 47 in the samemanner as already described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, and that Ialso employ yin the construction seen in Fig. 12, the construction ofbearings seen in Figs. 9 and 10. I close the end 48 of the goose neckseen in Fig. 12 by means of a plate 49, having a port 50- therethrough,which is adapted to reoister with the port 51 in the plate 52, whichturns upon the bearing 68, the construction being such that the plate 49,is fast or stationary upon the extremity of the goose neck 4S, whilethe plate 52 can be turned thereon so as to bring the ports 50 and 51into or out of alinement, as may be desired, thereby increasing ordiminishing the sound reproduced from the diaphragm 2 at the will of theoperator. By the employment of the construction seen in Fig. 12, yitwill be apparent that I combine in a single structure the return bendmeniber and the sound box member, which have heretofore generally beenmade detachable or in a plurality of parts, so that in my construction,the cost of manufacture is greatly simplified and reduced to a mini- Inthe construction seen in Figs. 18, 14 and 15, I show my invention in itsbroad aspects as applied to the tapering arm of a Columbia talkingmachine, wherein the tapering tone arm 53 is provided with thebellshaped head 5st of the usual construction, said tone arm terminatingat its opposite end in' the sound box body 55, which is cast or moldedas an inteOral member with the said tone arm, as will be understood fromFig. 15, said sound box body having the diaphragm 2 and ring 11 seen inFig. 7 molded therein in the same manner as already described, andprovided with the stylus arm Q9 and the stylus holder 21 and the stylus26 of the same character as already described with reference to Figs. 9and 10, so that I deem it unnecessary to repeat the description thereof.The tapering tone arm 53, the sound boxbody 55 and the diaphragm 2 maybe cast in one piece from rubber or other similar material by molds ofany suitable description, as will be apparent to those skilledin theart, and I do not therefore desire to be limited to any form of mold fortheir production.

In order to regulate the volume of sound created by the vibrations ofthe diaphragm 2, I employ in the construction seen in Figs. 13, 1i and15, a valve 56, which I locate in the larger portion of the tone arm,and provide the same at one end with a pintle 57, and at its oppositeend with a stem 58, which passes through a plate 59, which is secured tothe boss 60 in any suitable manner, and is provided with the port 61therein, adapted to register with the port 62 of the finger piece 63,which may belinurled as indicated at G-l. It will be understood that theclosure or plate 59 is fast on the boss 60, while the movable member 63freely rotates thereon and has connected therewith the stem 5S in sucha. way that the rotation of the plate 63 will cause the rotation of thestem 58 and the valve 56, so that the latter can be set at any desiredpoint so as to increase or diminish the volume of the sound through theoutlet opening 65. If desired, I may secure the pin 6G to the stationaryapertured member 59 and permit the same to project through the slot 67in the ianged or knurled portion 64 of the movable member 63, so that byturning said movable member 63 into one or the other of lits extremepositions, the controlling valve 56 will be in open or closed position,according to requirements. By locating the valve 56 in the positionshown in Figs. 13, 11 and 15 and employing the port controlling device63, it will be apparent that the regulation of the volume of sound willbe effected in a most etlicient manner, and the shutters or doors in thefront of the talking machine cabinet now generally employed may bedispensed with entirely, if desired.

I desire kto call special attention to the manner in which I secure thestylus arm 29 to the diaphragm 2, as indicated at 31 in Figs. and 15,since it will be apparent from these figures that by embedding theterminus 30 of the stylus arm in cement or similar material 31 in themanner indicated in said Figs. 2 and 15, I am enabled to malte thedesired connection with the diaphragm in such a way that there is nocontact of the metal of the stylus arm with the diaphragm, wherebyreproduction of any scratchy or metallic ,sounds is entirely obviated orreduced to a minimmn. In all the embodiments of my invention, as seen inFigs. Q, 12 or 15, it will 'be apparent that I have greatly simplifiedand cheapened the construction, and have done away with the surplusnumber of parts heretofore employed.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a noveland usefulconstruction of a sound bex which embodies the features of advantageenumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the abovedescription, and while I have, in the present instance, shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practicesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the sameis susceptible of modication in farious particulars without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

{aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. The herein described method of producing a sound box, which consistsin assemi ling a diaphragm with respect to a body of plastic material,causing the outer portions of said material while in a plastic conditionto incl-ose and engage the outer, front and rear surfaces of saiddiaphragm, whereby the latter is secured to said body during the act ofcasting and simultaneously castingl the bearings for the stylus arm onsaid sound box body.

2. The herein described method of producing a sound box, which consistsin assembling a sound box diaphragm with respect to a body of plasticmaterial, and next causing outer portions of said plastic material to becompressed and be cast around the outer peripheral portions and frontand rear surfaces of said diaphragm, whereby the latter becomes engagedwith said body during` the act of cas-ting the latter.

3. The herein described method of producing a sound box, which consistsin producing the rear wall, outer peripheral and front portions of thesound box body, in a. single operation and causing said sound box bodyto be cast through and to be interlocked at intervals with the outerperipheral portions of the diaphragm in one and the same castinOaoperation.

il. rlhe herein described method of producing a sound box, whichconsists in casting the rear wall, outer peripheral and front portionsof the sound box body, and a. rearwardly extending neck in a singleoperation, and causing portions of said sound box body to be interlockedwith and at intervals to pass through the outer peripheral portions ofthe diaphragm in one and the same casting operation.

5. The herein described method of producing a sound-box, which consistsin producing the rear wall, outer peripheral and front portions and therearwardly extending neck of the sound-box body in a single operationwhile casting said sound-box body around the outer peripheral portionsof a sound-box diaphragm. and simultaneously therewith casting on saidsound-box body the bearings for the stylus arm.

6. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box for talkingmachines, comprising a diaphragm, a one piece body portion of rubber orother similar material cast around and inclosing the outer portions ofsaid diaphragm and interlocked therewith, and bearings for a stylus armalso cast in said body portion.

7. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box for talkingmachines comprising a diaphragm, and a one piece body portion of rubberor other similar material inclosing said diaphragm and interlockedtherewith and comprising front, peripheral, and rear walls and arearwardly extending neck portion, and stylus arm bearings also cast onsaid body portion.

8. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box for talkingmachines, comprising a diaphragm, and a one piece body portion of rubberor other similar material cast around and inclosing the outer peripheralportion of said diaphragm and interlocked therewith.

9.. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box body cast of onepiece of material, in combination with a diaphragm cast therein, andconstituting therewith a unitary structure.

10. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box body cast of onepiece of material, and having bearings for a stylus arm also cast onsaid body, in combination with a diaphragm cast in said body andconstitutinoa therewith a unitary structure.

11. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box body having arearwardly extending neck, both being cast from a mass of rubber, incombination with a diaphragm cast in said body and constitutingtherewith a unitary structure.

12. rlhe method of making a sound box, which consists in casting a soundbox body around and into operative engagement with a diaphragm.

13. The method of making a sound box, which consists in casting a soundbox body from a mass of rubber around and into operative engagement witha diaphragm.

1st. he method of. making a sound box which consists in casting a soundbox body from a mass of rubber and simultaneously therewith interlockinga diaphragm with the sound box body.

15. ln a diaphragm mounting, the combination `'ith a mica diaphragm, ofa holding ring of hard rubber vulcanized in place upon the periphery ofsaid diaphragm so as to lirmly embrace the same and form a securemounting therefor.

16. ln a diaphragm mounting, the combination with a mica diaphragmhaving perforations adjacent its peripheral edge, of a holding ring ofhard rubber vulcanized in place upon the periphery of said diaphragm soas to firmly embrace the same and form a secure mounting therefor, saidholding ring hai/'ing integral portions from both sides of saiddiaphragm extending through the per, forations of the periphery of saiddiaphragm.

17. ln a diaphragm mounting, the combination with a mica diaphragmhaving perforations adjacent its peripheral edge, of a holding ring ofhard rubber vulcanized in place upon the periphery of said diaphragm soas to firmly embrace the same and form a secure mounting therefor, saidholding ring having portions of equal thickness at both sides of saiddiaphragm and having integral portions extending from said side portionsthrough the perforations of the periphery of said diaphragm.

18. As an article of manufacture, a diaphragm of flexible materialsurrounded at its edge by a mounting ring of rubber vulcanized to suchdiaphragm.

ALVA D. JONES.

Witnesses:

E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, C. D. MCVAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

